Enemy at 12! Avoiding Foreigners in China

Just for the record, in the first sentence of this column I wrote “.. black family that has – gasp – managed to become middle class and live in a posh neighbourhood.”

I think the term “African American” is ridiculous, especially seeing people don’t routinely say “German-American” “Norwegian-American” etc. and that they are sixth, seventh or eighth generation Americans who have never set foot in Africa.

The “gasp” was meant to be ironic, as I don’t think it’s very strange or unusual and certainly not “against all odds” that a black family is middle class in today’s America.

I just wanted to point that out. Very strongly.

美國人 – Mei Gok yan (American person)
非洲 – Fei Jau (Evildoing Continent/Africa) Chinese will now rush in and say: It doesn’t mean evildoing! It’s just a sound! Yes, maybe. But the other place with Fei in the name, 菲律賓 (Fei Leut Bahn) uses 菲 (luxuriant and fragrant) not 非 (not, non- negative, wrongdoing, evildoing)